Advocates and consultants debate EV‑charging readiness and accessible parking rules

Speakers at the SBCC hearing presented competing technical and policy priorities for proposed changes to IBC Section 429 (EV charging requirements).

Deepa Sivarajan of Climate Solutions urged adjustments to Table 429.2 and related proposals, recommending EVSE (installed charging) remain at 10 percent for certain Group R occupancies, restoring EV‑ready spaces to 15 percent (down from 25) and increasing EV‑capable spaces to 75 percent so that the combined coverage of spaces prepared for future charging would total 100 percent. "We really want to support a high level of EV charging options," Sivarajan said, tying the push to Washington's statutory climate targets.

By contrast, Richard Williams (CWA Consultants) focused on accessibility and code clarity in Proposal 24‑BFRW‑EV‑R4. He proposed reducing some required percentages to 5 percent for certain accessible counts, clarifying that required accessible EV spaces should count toward totals in a consistent way, and removing the state EV sign requirement from accessible parking spaces to avoid unintentionally reducing accessible stalls. "If not removed, there's a question about whether or not this effectively reduces the number of required accessible parking spaces," Williams said, noting potential ADA conflicts and asking that the code explicitly align with State Opinion 24‑25 and cross‑references.

Both sets of testimony asked SBCC to balance climate objectives, cost and constructability concerns, and accessibility obligations. The hearing record remains open and the council did not act at this session.